Over a week later

The week after the meeting went so fast, Rosa felt it was a blur. A cover story for their parent’s death was finally created and Commander Ruthor was able to take her out of school. Under watchful eyes, Rosa said goodbye to her friends promising to see them soon, which she hoped would be true. Since then, Emma had been responsible of her education where she’d keep herself busy with work either at the house or Hunter HQ. And honestly she’d been enjoying it, not only was she became more accustomed to the hunters and the HQ she also only had to learn the fundamental subjects. Plus Sam had been ordered to continue her assignment to watch over her so they’d constantly been able hang out. She even started introducing Rosa to many officers and hunters throughout the HQ, including Lyn and Vanessa who both went to the academy with Louie, Bianca who Rosa found out is actually Zack’s fiancé, the Commander and even Zack had been making a constant effort to speak with her although Rosa still hadn’t gotten used to being under that golden gaze.

However, that wasn’t what had her attention tonight. Rosa carefully took her place around the corner of the hall, waiting. Like every night for the past week at the exact same time, Rosa watched from around the corner as Louie entered the room.

She had no idea what was in there. He locked it in the day and whenever she asked he’d just tell her it was an office. But she knew his office was downstairs. So that meant only one thing, it was a secret office. The idea, the possibilities thrilled Rosa, and tonight she’d discover the truth. While he was in there he never locked the door.

“What are you doing?” a voice asked.

Rosa leapt out her skin. She turned to see her grinning sister.

“Nothing” she snapped, her heart hammering against her chest.

Emma cocked a brow.

“I’m finally going to uncover the truth” Rosa explained.

“What truth?”. Emma glanced around her and at the room. “It’s his office” she said, clearly confused by Rosa’s enthusiasm.

“His office is downstairs”.

“People can have multiple offices Rosa” Emma insisted.

“Yeah and they can also have secret offices”.

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“Is that what you think it is?” Emma asked amused. “It doesn’t look very secret. The door’s in the middle of the hall”.

“Hiding in plain sight” Rosa shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter because tonight I find out”.

“Fine” Emma said.

Emma strolled down the hallway, Rosa trailing closely behind. They reached the door and Emma twisted the handle and let it swing open.

Louie was leaning on a large wooden desk at the rooms centre. His gaze left the wall ahead and focused on them.

“What?” he asked, completely unfazed by their intrusion.

Emma turned to Rosa.

“Seeing what this place is” Rosa said.

“An office. Like I told you”.

“What do you do here?”.

“I work” he said bluntly.

“On what?” Emma asked.

Louie’s gaze went back to the wall. It had been covered in a large board, which was decorated with files, documents and pictures with pins and strings leading to each one. It reminded her of a detective show or film. At the centre was their parents, James and Mary Elacti.

“Woah” Rosa murmured. He’d been working on their case, just like he said he would, and from the looks of it for a while.

“You’ve been busy” Emma stated, her eyes scanning the board.

“I was” Louie stated.

“What happened?” Rosa asked.

“I got stuck” he admitted sourly.

Emma forced her eyes away from the board and onto Louie. “What about Valdosk?” she asked.

“Your parent’s case takes my priority” Louie responded his gaze never leaving his wall of evidence, “I’ll leave Valdosk to Zack”.

“Didn’t you promise the covenant you’d kill him?” Rosa asked.

“I promised that the vampire would die” Louie replied, “nothing more, nothing less”.

“You don’t think Valdosk is responsible for the death of our parents?” Emma inquired.

“Do you?”.

“No” Emma admitted, Rosa noticed a darkness in her expression, “Not even a vampire lord could’ve killed my father so easily, even if he was retired from combat”.

“Then we’re on the same page” Louie stated, gesturing towards the board, “but something wants us to think Valdosk did. The question now, is what?”.

“What have you found?” Emma asked while taking a seat upon the desk.

“Nothing I can use” he grumbled, “I have dozens of pieces but no method of putting them together”.

“Can we help?” Rosa asked.

Louie shrugged. “You can if you want to”.

“I’ll grab some drinks” Emma announced.

“I’ll get the snacks” Rosa declared.

Louie sighed and then chuckled as they raced out the room and to the kitchen.

Despite Rosa and Emma’s enthusiasm, it turned out an extra two brains didn’t contribute as much as she wished. Now there were just three people staring blankly at an unchanging board instead of just one. Dozens of possibilities, numerous culprits each more unlikely than the last.

Reluctantly they decided to call it a night and Louie locked up the room.

“Don’t say a word to anyone about what we’re doing” Louie said as they gathered in the hall. Both Emma and Rosa nodded. He went to walk off to his room but hesitated.

“I’m going away for a few days and won’t be back until the morning of the funeral. Will you two be okay?” he asked, a strange softness in his icy eyes.

“Where are you going?” Rosa asked, not even registering his question.

“My talents are needed up north” Louie explained.

“We’ll be fine” Emma cut in.

A small smile cracked across his face. “Goodnight” he said and then he disappeared down the hall.